Isaca CISM Practice Test 25
Question 240
A hospital's data inventory excludes confidential imaging archives managed by a research partner. The accountable executive now asks the team to ensure the partner applies correct handling protections. What should the security manager recommend?
- Reassess permitted use, retention and access with the asset owner
- Map data sets, locations, owners and external processing relationships
- Classify patient imaging using sensitivity, clinical need and applicable duties
- Define contractually required safeguards derived from the classification
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Outside custody does not eliminate handling obligations. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Information sensitivity changes with purpose. That action primarily serves the different objective to verify classification remains correct after research scope changes. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to ensure the partner applies correct handling protections.
B:Incomplete inventories hide sensitive information. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify all information assets in the patient workflow. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to ensure the partner applies correct handling protections.
C:Business impact and regulation guide classification. That action primarily serves the different objective to assign classification based on harm and obligations. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to ensure the partner applies correct handling protections.
Question 241
A telecommunications firm cannot identify who owns encryption of call records stored across cloud platforms. The records have been classified and their storage and replica locations inventoried, but the organization has not yet approved encryption and key-management requirements proportional to the data risk. After reviewing the situation, the management objective is to select an encryption approach appropriate to information sensitivity. Which response MOST directly addresses it?
- Assign the service owner to data risk and platform teams to control execution
- Use the classification and threat model to approve encryption and key handling requirements
- Review encryption configurations and key-access evidence across all copies
- Produce an approved data-flow and storage inventory including backup copies
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Controls must match risk and use constraints. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Data accountability and technical operation differ. That action primarily serves the different objective to define ownership for the records and storage controls. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to select an encryption approach appropriate to information sensitivity.
C:A policy does not prove every replica is protected. That action primarily serves the different objective to evaluate whether data protection operates as intended. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to select an encryption approach appropriate to information sensitivity.
D:Encryption scope depends on actual locations. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify where records are stored and replicated. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to select an encryption approach appropriate to information sensitivity.
Question 242
A nonprofit is aligning its security program with a standard framework for donor confidence. For the next governance decision, the team must prioritize gaps identified by a framework assessment. Which choice BEST provides that outcome?
- Rank findings by business exposure rather than control numbering
- Create a control catalog with consistent definitions and responsible roles
- Map relevant framework outcomes to donor-data and mission risks
- Reassess control applicability for changed technology and partners
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Not every missing control has equal impact. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
B:A common taxonomy supports oversight. That action primarily serves the different objective to establish a common language for control ownership. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prioritize gaps identified by a framework assessment.
C:Framework adoption must be tailored to context. That action primarily serves the different objective to choose a framework without treating it as a complete risk analysis. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prioritize gaps identified by a framework assessment.
D:Framework scope should follow service changes. That action primarily serves the different objective to refresh the framework mapping after new cloud services. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prioritize gaps identified by a framework assessment.
Question 243
A manufacturing group has security policy documents with inconsistent terminology and obsolete operating steps. The security program has been tasked specifically to communicate mandatory requirements to workers. Which approach should be selected?
- Require documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and expiry
- Establish a hierarchy of policy, standards, procedures and advisory guidelines
- Assign approvals, review dates and business-control owners
- Distribute role-specific instructions through normal operational channels
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Awareness depends on accessible guidance. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:An exception should remain controlled. That action primarily serves the different objective to manage exceptions for a machine that cannot support the standard. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to communicate mandatory requirements to workers.
B:Different document types serve different authority levels. That action primarily serves the different objective to separate mandatory policy intent from detailed instructions. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to communicate mandatory requirements to workers.
C:Unowned documents become stale. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify document ownership. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to communicate mandatory requirements to workers.
Question 244
A software provider must reduce unauthorized production database changes without delaying legitimate releases. A security manager has a defined assignment: test effectiveness of the change control. Which action BEST fulfills that specific assignment?
- Require independent approval and least-privilege access for sensitive deployment actions
- Alert on direct privileged writes outside approved deployment workflows
- Integrate approval evidence into the automated deployment workflow
- Attempt a controlled unauthorized release and verify blocking and logging
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Technical enforcement should be demonstrated. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Segregation reduces self-approved changes. That action primarily serves the different objective to select controls based on the production change risk. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to test effectiveness of the change control.
B:Operational signals reveal control failures. That action primarily serves the different objective to monitor changes that bypass approved release paths. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to test effectiveness of the change control.
C:A policy alone cannot stop bypass. That action primarily serves the different objective to ensure changes follow the intended path. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to test effectiveness of the change control.
Question 245
A retail group is deploying network access controls across stores that use many third-party maintenance devices. The accountable executive now asks the team to phase the control implementation safely. What should the security manager recommend?
- Inventory device paths and critical service communications
- Require an access review and update the approved segmentation baseline
- Pilot policies in representative stores with rollback and monitoring
- Isolate device groups according to trust and business dependency
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Controlled rollout reduces disruption. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Unknown flows can cause operational outages. That action primarily serves the different objective to map actual dependencies before control rollout. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to phase the control implementation safely.
B:New devices should not inherit broad access. That action primarily serves the different objective to respond when new maintenance devices need access. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to phase the control implementation safely.
D:Segmentation limits compromise propagation. That action primarily serves the different objective to choose segmentation boundaries for maintenance devices. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to phase the control implementation safely.
Question 246
A payment processor has installed a web application firewall but still sees injection attempts reaching applications. After reviewing the situation, the management objective is to prioritize remediation for exploitable gaps. Which response MOST directly addresses it?
- Use authorized attack simulations and application telemetry to test blocking
- Rank fixes by reachable exposure and payment-processing impact
- Retest the previously successful attack paths under normal traffic conditions
- Analyze rule configuration, exceptions and application routing
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Business risk should drive urgency. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:A deployed firewall is not proof of protection. That action primarily serves the different objective to establish whether the control is effective. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prioritize remediation for exploitable gaps.
C:Closure requires demonstrated improvement. That action primarily serves the different objective to verify improvements after tuning. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prioritize remediation for exploitable gaps.
D:Misconfiguration can undermine designed controls. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify why detection and blocking differ. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prioritize remediation for exploitable gaps.
Question 247
A utilities firm conducts annual cyber training but plant operators still approve suspicious remote access requests. For the next governance decision, the team must evaluate learning beyond course completion. Which choice BEST provides that outcome?
- Analyze root causes and rework targeted lessons before retesting
- Map operational technology access decisions to plant job responsibilities
- Test operator decisions in controlled drills and review errors
- Use realistic contractor remote-access and safety workflows
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Completion does not prove competence. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Measured gaps should shape program content. That action primarily serves the different objective to adjust training after repeated drill failures. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to evaluate learning beyond course completion.
B:Generic material may miss role-specific risks. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify which roles need specialized training. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to evaluate learning beyond course completion.
D:Practice must match actual decisions. That action primarily serves the different objective to develop relevant training scenarios. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to evaluate learning beyond course completion.
Question 248
A logistics firm has moved its vehicle-tracking platform to a managed SaaS provider. Two outages occurred after launch, yet the provider has offered only its original onboarding questionnaire as assurance. The security program has been tasked specifically to monitor supplier performance after launch. Which approach should be selected?
- Add incident notice, audit rights, availability and data-return terms to the contract
- Review assurance reports, outages and open remediation items against obligations
- Rely on the precontract supplier questionnaire as the sole measure of live performance after two material service interruptions
- Test access to exportable data and an alternate service transition path
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Point-in-time diligence expires. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Controls need contractual accountability. That action primarily serves the different objective to make security duties enforceable. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to monitor supplier performance after launch.
C:Precontract diligence becomes stale after implementation. Ongoing oversight needs operational assurance, incident history, outage evidence and open remediation against agreed obligations.
D:Exit readiness limits lock-in exposure. That action primarily serves the different objective to plan an orderly exit if the supplier fails. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to monitor supplier performance after launch.
Question 249
A bank's cloud vendor depends on another company for physical data-center operations. A security manager has a defined assignment: make incident notification duties reach downstream providers. Which action BEST fulfills that specific assignment?
- Ensure the prime vendor contract imposes timely subcontractor notice and escalation
- Obtain relevant reports and contract flow-down evidence for high-impact subcontractors
- Map the provider's critical subcontractors and which controls they operate
- Escalate through the prime supplier and assess alternative service arrangements
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Accountability must flow through the chain. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
B:Primary supplier reports may not cover downstream work. That action primarily serves the different objective to define which assurance evidence is needed. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to make incident notification duties reach downstream providers.
C:Invisible dependencies can concentrate risk. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify material fourth-party dependencies. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to make incident notification duties reach downstream providers.
D:The enterprise retains responsibility for service continuity. That action primarily serves the different objective to address a critical subcontractor's control failure. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to make incident notification duties reach downstream providers.
Question 250
A sales organization suffered credential theft after repeated social engineering calls to its help desk. The accountable executive now asks the team to prevent overrides of high-risk identity resets. What should the security manager recommend?
- Review actual identity-proofing calls and escalation decisions
- Train on verification procedures and supervised escalation drills
- Implement dual approval and recorded verification for sensitive recovery requests
- Update training and procedural controls for the new contact channel
Explanation
Correct Answer
C:Preventive workflow limits social engineering. This is the specified management outcome in the scenario; it gives the accountable team an action matched to the stated requirement.
Incorrect Answers
A:Real-world patterns reveal weaknesses. That action primarily serves the different objective to identify behavior gaps in service desk authentication. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prevent overrides of high-risk identity resets.
B:Scenario practice improves response. That action primarily serves the different objective to teach staff how to challenge urgent callers safely. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prevent overrides of high-risk identity resets.
D:Threat changes should alter practice. That action primarily serves the different objective to respond when attackers switch to collaboration chat. It is not the step that directly satisfies the stated need to prevent overrides of high-risk identity resets.